Young Gun: Tom Whiteley – Saracens scrum-half

Tom Whiteley’s season could not have started better with a hat-trick and a match-winning penalty in his first two games for Rosslyn Park.
The scrum-half came off the bench in the opening round against Henley and found his way over the line three times and last week, against promotion rivals Plymouth Albion, his penalty four minutes from time put the game out of reach.
Coming from the prestigious Millfield School in Somerset, the 20-year-old flyer is part of the Saracens academy but he is dual-registered with Park as he gets used to senior rugby.
“The start of the season has been great for me,” he told The Rugby Paper. “I train with Saracens all week but I also go to Rosslyn Park on Tuesdays and Thursdays as well as playing for them on the weekend.
“Playing for Bishop’s Stortford in National League Two South last season was very good for me as it was my first year at senior level but the National League One is definitely a step up.
“I’ve put on ten kilograms since joining the academy last season and I’m seeing the benefits. The S&C coaches kept a close eye on me to make sure I’m not losing my speed and explosiveness. I’ve lost a bit of top-end speed but my 40-metre time is pretty much the same.
“I was lucky to play three games in the LV=Cup last season and it was a great experience. Getting involved in the A-League and maybe pushing on for a Premiership appearance are my targets for the season.”
Rosslyn Park is actually where Whiteley first picked up a rugby ball aged seven. But he failed exams to get into Emanuel School and left London to join Millfield on a rugby scholarship in a move that changed his life.
At club level, things didn’t go as well, with Harlequins and Bath both letting him go. But far from feeling sorry for himself, Whiteley turned his fortunes around at the 2014 Rosslyn Park Sevens.
Stealing the show alongside Bristol’s Callum Sheedy, he was spotted by a Saracens academy coach and he joined them that summer.
He added: “I’ve never played for England age group teams and unfortunately I’m now ten days too old to qualify for England U20s this year.
“So Saracens is all that matters for me. My contract is up at the end of the season and I’d like to secure another one.
“They’ve taken a big gamble on me, offering me a two-year deal straight from school, and I want to repay the faith they’ve showed in me.
“Harlequins and Bath both let me go because they said I was too small and, to be honest, proving them wrong is what drives me to succeed.
“I grew up playing at full-back but in my last year at Millfield I switched to scrum-half and that’s where Saracens see my future.
“There’s long way to go still and the competition at the club is fierce for the No.9 shirt but I’m up for the fight and I won’t give up easily.”